Hotels for the next generation

Longing for alternatives to the conventional, cookie-cutter hotel? New specialty chains from major hospitality companies including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Carlson Rezidor will be springing up across the globe in the coming weeks and months.

The hotels are what’s known in the industry as “lifestyle” brands: They strive to appeal to the predilections of next-generation travelers. Some are trying to lure millennials (who are defined as between 18 and 34 in 2015, according to the Pew Research Center) with high-tech lounges, reasonable rates, locally inspired amenities, and grab-and-go meals. Others are aiming to attract cosmopolitan travelers who simply want affordable, modern spaces that feel luxurious without being fussy or sterile.

▪ Moxy Hotels: This is Marriott for Millennials, a demographic Marriott International felt was being underserved by its competitors with staid hotels that lacked personality.

Much of what one will find inside Moxy is based on Marriott’s research into millennial behavior, according to Tina Edmundson, the global officer for luxury and lifestyle brands for Marriott International. For instance, the company’s research suggested that millennials shy away from hotels that feel corporate; they’re immersed in social media; and they enjoy shared spaces for both work and fun. So Moxy hotels have playful “living rooms” with free Wi-Fi, plenty of electrical outlets and classic games, such as Jenga and Connect Four.

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Photos that guests post on Instagram with the hashtag #atthemoxy instantly appear on Moxyhotels.com and on a digital guest book: an oversize screen in the hotel “living room.” Naturally there’s a full-service bar. And since millennials want what they want when they want it, according to Marriott, there’s a 24-hour self-service cafe.

Marriott plans to open more than 100 Moxy hotels over the next decade in cities that include Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Copenhagen and London. In the United States, coming locations include Manhattan, San Francisco, Seattle, New Orleans and Chicago. Information: Moxy-hotels.marriott.com.

In addition to Moxy, Marriott is also in the midst of introducing its AC brand to the United States (it is already in Europe). Like Moxy, AC Hotels by Marriott cater to millennials, particularly young entrepreneur types, but AC is even more focused on design, with an emphasis on clean, European style. This month, an AC hotel will open in Washington, D.C. Next month is Miami Beach, and in May, Chicago. Information: Achotels.marriott.com.

▪ Canopy by Hilton. Each hotel in this chain will aim to convey the feeling of the neighborhood it’s in through locally inspired design, art, music, drinks (like evening tastings of local brews) and food. Guests may be shown neighborhood fitness options such as jogging routes and bikes, and they’ll receive a small welcome gift from local businesses. Guests in Denver, for example, might be given a treat from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, while those in Chicago might receive a snack from Garrett Popcorn.

At check-in (which can be done through a mobile app) guests will have the option of selecting a themed “foodie bag” for their minibar — “one of the most underused amenities in hotel rooms,” according to Gary Steffen, the global head of Canopy by Hilton. The foodie bag details are still being finalized, but Steffen said in an email that the options could include a “health driven” bag, a “chocolate lovers” bag and a “jet-lag” bag.

It’s all part of Canopy’s effort to cut through the clutter of so-called lifestyle hotels and offer a simple yet modern take on comfort and value. Speaking of the latter, breakfast will be free, and so will the Wi-Fi.

The hotels will be in cities and secondary markets around the world, including London; Portland, Oregon; Miami; Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Nashville; Oklahoma City; and Ithaca, New York. Information: Canopybyhilton.com.

▪ Hyatt Centric. This new brand is designed for what Hyatt calls “modern explorers”: multigenerational, sophisticated travelers who want to be in the heart of their destinations and who want their hotel to be connected to the local culture.

There will be locally made amenities and bath wear; a common lounge for work or play called the Corner will have local books and magazines. There will be free Wi-Fi, and dining will be a more casual affair. For example, room service will be offered as a “knock ‘n’ drop” service; gone is the formal in-room, on-the-bed presentation.

Hyatt Centric hotels will be in popular destinations including Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Paris. Information: Hyattcentric.com.

▪ Radisson Red. Another brand geared to millennials, this upscale line from Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is making its debut this year. The emphasis is on technology, modern design and quick food service (expect a bar and deli instead of a full-service restaurant).

A mobile app will allow you to do everything from skipping the check-in desk to ordering a drink from the bar to requesting flowers through an online concierge and summoning a taxi to whisk you to the airport. When you arrive you enter a “gallery” art space, which flows into a bar and deli area open from morning coffee to evening cocktails.

Radisson Red hotels will be in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. Information: Radissonred.com.